Valued living among veterans in breath-based meditation treatment or cognitive processing therapy for posttraumatic stress disorder: Exploratory outcome of a randomized controlled trial

Schulz-Heik, R.J., Lazzeroni, L.C., Hernandez, B., Avery, T.J., Mathersul, D.C., Tang, J.S., Hugo, E. and Bayley, P.J. (2022) Valued living among veterans in breath-based meditation treatment or cognitive processing therapy for posttraumatic stress disorder: Exploratory outcome of a randomized controlled trial. Global Advances in Health and Medicine, 11 . pp. 1-9.

Abstract

Background

Valued living is the extent to which an individual’s behavior is consistent with what they believe is important or good. It is unknown whether many complementary and integrative treatments and psychotherapies for posttraumatic stress disorder enhance valued living, and for whom.

Objectives

Measure within- and between-group changes in valued living in Veterans who completed cognitive processing therapy (CPT) and sudarshan kriya yoga (SKY) for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD); evaluate moderators of improvement.

Methods

Participants with clinically significant symptoms of PTSD were assigned to CPT, a first line, evidence-based psychotherapy for PTSD or SKY, an emerging breath-based meditation with strong preliminary empirical support in a parallel-groups randomized controlled trial at a single Veterans Affairs healthcare center. The Valuing Questionnaire subscales for progress in valued living (VQ-P) and obstruction in valued living (VQ-O) were exploratory outcome measures. Assessors were blind to treatment assignment.

Results

59 participants completed treatment (29 CPT, 30 SKY). Participants in the CPT group improved from baseline to end of treatment in both VQ-Progress (d=0.55, p=0.02) and VQ–Obstruction (d=-0.51, p=0.03), while the SKY group did not improve on either subscale (d=0.08, p=0.69; d=0.00, p=1.00). However, differences between treatments were not statistically significant (p=0.16, 0.11, respectively). Participants reporting less valued living and more depression symptoms at baseline reported greater improvements in valued living following treatment.

Conclusion

CPT may have a positive effect on valued living. Individuals lower in valued living and with more depression may derive relatively more benefit.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Murdoch Affiliation(s):	Psychology, Counselling, Exercise Science and Chiropractic
Publisher:	SAGE Publications
Copyright:	© 2022 The Authors.
United Nations SDGs:	Goal 3: Good Health and Well-Being
URI:	http://researchrepository.murdoch.edu.au/id/eprint/65412

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